In summer, resorts in the French Alps are full of lakes and streams, great playgrounds for sport lovers in whitewater. Try canyoning, rafting, hydrospeed and kayaking in Savoie and the Hautes-Alpes, getting your fill of thrills in the mountains. The natural mountain purity has been here since the beginning of time – and we love it!
Ride the torrents at Valmeinier
Put on your wetsuit and river shoes and throw yourself into the water with your family! This fun ride in the water takes you to the assault of mountain streams in the heart of the Alps, in the Valmeinier resort, located in the Maurienne Valley in Savoie. It’s a question of ascending the torrent by scaling the rocks in front of the current: this is called ‘ruisseling’. Fun and freshness guaranteed! Suitable for children from 6 years old.
Plunge into the high-altitude lakes in La Rosière
Nicknamed ‘the balcony of the Tarentaise’, this Savoyard resort offers a panoramic view of the valley and Mont Pourri: one of the most beautiful corners of the Alps, ideal in summer. Here, at the bend of the mountain pastures, the mountain secretes lakes accessible to walkers of all levels. From a simple family outing to the most demanding mountain races, to ice hiking and via ferrata, La Rosière has a lake for everyone!
Go canyoning in the Pays des Ecrins
The Massif des Ecrins is situated in the Hautes-Alpes department in the southern Alps. Vallon du Fournel, above the village of Argentière-la-Bessée, is an incomparable playground for canyoning enthusiasts: here, you only have to walk 10 minutes to reach the starting point of two-hour itinerary. Slip into the pools naturally carved into the rocks, jump into water holes, walk and swim in mountain streams: it’s enough to cool you down by a few degrees. Suitable for children from 10 years old.
Raft the Guil rapids in Queyras
If you like mountain rivers, the Guil rapids are a must in the Alps: they cross the Queyras valley and have forged a reputation for being one of the hotspots for whitewater sports in Europe. Do you prefer kayaking, rafting or hydrospeed? There’s something for everyone in this unspoilt region of the Hautes-Alpes: don your swimsuits and helmets, take the oars, follow the guide. Queyras
Discover canorafting at Sixt-Fer-à-Cheval
Sixt-Fer-à-Cheval, France
There are several routes available for this introduction to canorafting. Firstly, there's a discovery tour, or a full-day, half-day or even full-day sporting tour. More specifically, two of you will embark on a canoraft to travel the meanders of the Haut-Griffe in the Alps. A qualified guide accompanies you and ensures your safety from his own boat. Thrills are guaranteed after a few laughs, giving you time to get to grips with your canoraft.
Read more :
5 unusual activities to unwind in the Alps this summer
Adrenalin rush in the French Alps
The most beautiful hikes around Mont Blanc
Find out more :
Plan your stay in the Alps with Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes Tourisme
Plan your stay in the Southern Alps
Information about your stay in the Alps : France Montagne
Tips and recommendations
After the effort, the comfort! You'll need a good seat on the terrace to enjoy a satisfying meal. Choose restaurants offering sustainable cuisine, with dishes made from local seasonal produce.
By Caroline Revol-Maurel
Journalist passionate about wild nature, travel and rock. As happy to write about bearded vultures as Lou Reed. Often accompanied by my two best critics, my daughters.
